Pressure regulator valve for l. p. cartridges

ABSTRACT

A finger-adjustable pressure regulator valve for regulating and shutting off the flow of gas from a disposable propane cartridge comprises a valve body containing a spring-loaded diaphragm operating on a strand tire core valve. The diaphragm spring is held by a threaded retainer which is adjustable from a full-open position to a full-closed position by rotation thereof with a control knob. A retainer stop is threaded to the valve body and the spring retainer is threaded therein. During assembly, the retainer stop is threaded in place sufficiently to obtain the diaphragm seal and is then frozen in position as by jamming the threads or by the use of a plastic thread-lock compound. Preferably the finger-adjustable control knob is a bonnet or cap that extends over the valve body, giving a pleasing integral appearance to the regulator. The cap is affixed to the spring retainer after it has been positioned at the maximum pressure control point and frozen, as by press fitting the cap to the retainer. In a preferred embodiment, a push pin is associated with and extends through the control knob and serves to permit depression of the diaphragm spring to the full-open position, regardless of the setting of the control knob. This is useful in the starting up of certain equipment, such as a space heater, which should be internally flooded with gas to secure proper ignition.

United States Patent [72] inventor Irving ll. Stenner Brockport, NY. 21]Appl. No. 846,484 122} Filed July 31.1969 [45] Patented July 6,1971 [73]Assignee Bernmrnatic Corporation [54] PRESSURE REGULATOR VALVE FOR 1...P.

CARTRIDGES 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

(52] U.S. Cl 137/495, 137/505.39 [51] Int. Cl 605d 16/06 [50] Field 01Search 137/322, 505.4, 613, 495, 212, 505.42, 614.2, 614.11, 630.22,505.41 505.43, 505.39; 251/347, 350

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,854,991 10/1958 Webster137/322 2,868,224 l/1959 Karlsson et a1. 137/495 3,308,990 3/1967Klasson et a1. 137/212 X 3,315,844 4/1967 Klasson et al.... 137/212 X3,352,456 11/1967 Swineford 137/505.42 X 3,422,448 1/1969 Johnston137/212 X Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson Assistanl Examiner-Robert J.Miller Attorney-Burgess, Dinklage & Sprung ABSTRACT: A finger-adjustablepressure regulator valve for regulating and shutting off the flow of gasfrom a disposable propane cartridge comprises a valve body containing aspringloaded diaphragm operating on a strand tire core valve. Thediaphragm spring is held by a threaded retainer which is adjustable froma full-open position to a full-closed position by rotation thereof witha control knob.

A retainer stop is threaded to the valve body and the spring retainer isthreaded therein. During assembly, the retainer stop is threaded iriplace sufficiently to obtain the diaphragm seal and is then frozen inposition as by jamming the threads or by the use of a plasticthread-lock compound.

Preferably the finger-adjustable control knob is a bonnet or cap thatextends over the valve body, giving a pleasing integral appearance tothe regulator. The cap is affixed to the spring retainer after it hasbeen positioned at the maximum pressure control point and frozen, as bypress fitting the cap to the retainer.

In a preferred embodiment, a push pin is associated with and extendsthrough the control knob and serves to permit depression of thediaphragm spring to the full-open position, regardless of the setting ofthe control knob. This is useful in the starting up of certainequipment, such as a space heater, which should be internally floodedwith gas to secure proper ignition.

RELATED PATENT This application is an improvement of the regulatordescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,991 issued to M. E. Webster, Oct. 7,1958. The elements of this and the patented regulator are essentiallythe same except for the means used to restrain the diaphragm spring andcontrollably adjust the tension thereon.

THIS INVENTION Easy but accurate and safe finger adjustment of theregulators used with the disposable L. P. gas cartridges for torches,camp stoves, lanterns and the like, has long been desired. The presentinvention is addressed to this problem and proposes a regulator valvethat functionally permits modulation of gas flow by easy finger rotationof a control knob or bonnet from full shut-off to full-open, with therebeing a positive stop of the rotation of the knob at the full-openposition which is preset in the factory during the assembly of theregulator and cannot, for all practical purposes, be later changed bythe user.

In addition, the appearance of the regulator of this invention is quitepleasant and solid-appearing.

With some equipment it is desirable to flood the equipment with gasprior to ignition or during warmup and to this end the regulator in apreferred embodiment has a finger-operated pushbutton in the controlknob that can be depressed to hold the regulator valve in a full-openposition when desired, regardless of the setting of the control knob.

THE DRAWlNGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the regulator;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the regulator of FIG. 1 taken alongthe centerline thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing anembodiment having a pushbutton for overriding the normal setting of thecontrol knob.

Like parts have the same number in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION AND EXAMPLES Referring to the drawings, 17 is the valve bodyand 13 is the rotatable control knob mounted thereon. The valve body hasa threaded outlet 23 for connecting the regulator as by a hose orthreaded pipe to the equipment to utilize the gas, such as a cookingstove. The inlet is threaded at 25 to permit it to be attached to a gascartridge in a known manner, and contains a stem 22 to actuate thecartridge valve.

A tire core valve 19 is located in a valve chamber positioned between inthe inlet and outlet passageways. Valve 19 has an actuating stem 24 thatextends upwardly and engages the regulator diaphragm 16 which, as shown,has guides 18a and 18b affixed thereto which for manufacturingsimplicity are identical, although the recess therein is only used onone side to center the valve stem 24, and the shoulder thereof is onlyused on the other side to center the actuating spring 14.

The diaphragm 16 is held in the diaphragm chamber by means of a threadedretainer 12 acting against a sealing washer 15. The retainer or stop 12is desirably frozen in position by the application of a stud-lockcompound or anaerobic plastic adhesive to the external threads thereof.

The regulator diaphragm 16 is shown in a partly open position in FIG. 3and in the closed position in FIG. 2, wherein there is a force acting onstem 24. The upper side thereof is exposed to the ambient atmosphere viaopening 26 and the gap between the knob 13 and the valve body.

The control knob 13 is attached to the upper part of spring retainer 11,as by a press fit after the spring retainer 11 is adjusted to themaximum pressure control point, which thereafter prevents anyhigh-pressure control adjustment and disassembly of the valve withoutconsiderable effort. This arrangement 18 considered to be a significantfeature of this invention.

The spring retainer 11 is threadably mounted in stop 12. It can be seenthat in operation by rotation of knob 13 the position of the retainerand thus the compression of spring 14 can be adjusted to thereby varythe action of the diaphragm on valve 19 and modulate the flow of gastherethrough.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment wherein the bonnet 13 is modified by having arecessed opening into which fits a pushbutton 10, the lower portion ofwhich extends through retainer 11 and acts against spring 14. Whenbutton 10 is depressed by finger pressure, it compresses spring 14 andcauses diaphragm 16 to act against valve 19 fully. The recessing of thebutton into the control knob, as shown, helps to prevent accidentaldepressing of the button.

lclaim:

1. A finger-adjustable pressure regulator for regulating andshutting-off the flow of a fuel delivered from a container containingliquefied fuel gas, comprising:

a. a valve body having an inlet adapted to receive fuel from saidcontainer, an outlet, a diaphragm chamber and a valve chamber positionedbetween said inlet and outlet and communicating therewith and with saiddiaphragm chamber;

b. a flexible diaphragm in said diaphragm chamber, the inner side ofwhich is subjected to the pressure at said outlet and the outer side ofwhich is subjected to ambient pressure;

' c. a regulator valve seated in said valve chamber and adapted in theclosed position to cut off the flow of gas therethrough;

d. a valve stem connected to said valve and adapted to be actuated bythe inner side of said diaphragm;

e. an actuating spring operating against the outer side of saiddiaphragm;

f. an adjustable spring retainer positioned to contain said springagainst said diaphragm in a manner such that said diaphragm operates toeffect movement of said valve from ful1-open to full-closed;

g. stop means associated with said spring retainer and adapted torestrict the upward motion thereof; and

h. a finger-adjustable control knob operating on said retainer andadapted to permit graduated positioning thereof at positionsintermediate of said full-open and full-closed positions.

2. The pressure regulator of claim 1 comprising in addition:

i. a push pin associated with and extending through said knob andadapted when depressed to compress said spring to the full-openposition, regardless of the setting of said control knob.

3. The regulator of claim 1 wherein said inlet is threaded and adaptedto mate with threads on the neck of said container and said valve isadapted to be mounted on said container and form a pressuretight sealtherewith.

4. The regulator of claim 1 wherein said valve body is circular and saidinlet, valve chamber, diaphragm chamber, spring and spring retainer havea common centerline, wherein said spring retainer stop means forrestricting the upward motion of said spring retainer is threadablymounted on said valve body and said spring retainer is threadablymounted thereon, wherein said control knob is a cap rigidly affixed tosaid spring retainer with the walls of said cap extending over saidvalve body and being free to rotate thereabout, and wherein, afterassembly and adjustment of said stop means, the rotation thereof withrespect to said valve body is frozen, with said cap thereafter beingaffixed to said spring retainer.

Dedication 3,590,860.1rving H. Stenner, Brockport N .Y. PRESSUREREGULATOR VALVE FOR L.P. OARTRIDd ES. Patent dated July 6, 1971.Dedication filed Feb. 4:, 1972, by the assi gnee, Bernzo'matz'cGomomtz'on. Hereby dedicates to the Public the entire term of saidpatent.

[Oyficz'al Gazette July 18, 1.972.]

1. A finger-adjustable pressure regulator for regulating andshutting-off the flow of a fuel delivered from a container containingliquefied fuel gas, comprising: a. a valve body having an inlet adaptedto receive fuel from said container, an outlet, a diaphragm chamber anda valve chamber positioned between said inlet and outlet andcommunicating therewith and with said diaphragm chamber; b. a flexiblediaphragm in said diaphragm chamber, the inner side of which issubjected to the pressure at said outlet and the outer side of which issubjected to ambient pressure; c. a regulator valve seated in said valvechamber and adapted in the closed position to cut off the flow of gastherethrough; d. a valve stem connected to said valve and adapted to beactuated by the inner side of said diaphragm; e. an actuating springoperating against the outer side of said diaphragm; f. an adjustablespring retainer positioned to contain said spring against said diaphragmin a manner such that said diaphragm operates to effect movement of saidvalve from fullopen to full-closed; g. stop means associated with saidspring retainer and adapted to restrict the upward motion thereof; andh. a finger-adjustable control knob operating on said retainer andadapted to permit graduated positioning thereof at positionsintermediate of said full-open and full-closed positions.
 2. Thepressure regulator Of claim 1 comprising in addition: i. a push pinassociated with and extending through said knob and adapted whendepressed to compress said spring to the full-open position, regardlessof the setting of said control knob.
 3. The regulator of claim 1 whereinsaid inlet is threaded and adapted to mate with threads on the neck ofsaid container and said valve is adapted to be mounted on said containerand form a pressuretight seal therewith.
 4. The regulator of claim 1wherein said valve body is circular and said inlet, valve chamber,diaphragm chamber, spring and spring retainer have a common centerline,wherein said spring retainer stop means for restricting the upwardmotion of said spring retainer is threadably mounted on said valve bodyand said spring retainer is threadably mounted thereon, wherein saidcontrol knob is a cap rigidly affixed to said spring retainer with thewalls of said cap extending over said valve body and being free torotate thereabout, and wherein, after assembly and adjustment of saidstop means, the rotation thereof with respect to said valve body isfrozen, with said cap thereafter being affixed to said spring retainer.